By Carina DuLong, Red Belt

Potential is defined as qualities or abilities that may be developed over time to lead to success in the future. These abilities can be physical or mental, and everyone has a different set of strengths that helps them succeed. Some qualities that allow people to have strong potential are the traits we foster in our taekwondo students such as respect, honesty, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, and self control. By developing these important characteristics, anyone can make progress towards their goals and make connections with people who can help them reach their full potential.
Use others as examples
Watching and listening to others who are experts in their fields provides an example to show us what is possible. Whether it’s taekwondo or a different skill, observing and learning from others sets us on the path to greatness. There is so much to learn from those around us and when we have people to look up to, it can provide the necessary motivation and unlock our potential to reach our goals. In taekwondo, we are surrounded by people we can use as role models. Our black belts who have dedicated many years of their lives to mastering Moo Sul Kwan taekwondo are a perfect example. Every one of our new white belts has the potential to become a black belt as long as they pay attention and try their best, but they may need the motivation of seeing what they can become to push them through the difficult parts of the progression through belts. Personally, one of my favorite hobbies is crocheting. I’m good at following directions and am patient enough to follow through with the projects I’m working on, yet observing others lets me realize how much more I can improve. Many people crochet for a living and they have so much practice they can create their pieces without looking and crochet so fast I can’t even tell what’s happening. A key part of maximizing our own potential is realizing what we don’t know, so we can continue to improve.
Be aware of current limitations
No two people have the same set of skills and we all have different strengths that allow us to excel in different areas of life. Therefore, being aware of our own current limitations can help avoid being discouraged and losing motivation. We all have the potential to achieve our goals, but we may have to go about it in a different way or practice certain skills more than someone else. In taekwondo, some people are super flexible and can do the full splits the day they start, while other people may be stiff and can’t even touch their toes. Likewise, the super flexible person may lack power while the stiff person is stronger and quicker. These people may be disheartened that they can’t touch their toes or are told to have more power, but that means they have a goal to work towards. Our instructors point out techniques that need work because they know we have the potential to change and do better. We have an opportunity to confront a challenge and improve rather than a reason to lose hope.
Help others realize their own potential
Helping others realize their own potential is a rewarding part of life. In our taekwondo classes, upper belts and older students strive to be good examples and do the best they can to help the lower belts and younger students. Our black belts use their years of experience to make helpful corrections, allowing us to improve. By upholding strict taekwondo standards, Colorado Taekwondo Institute ensures that these ancient martial arts skills continue to have a positive influence on new generations of students for both self defense and personal development.
How potential pertains to taekwondo
In taekwondo, many people have the goal of reaching black belt and beyond. We focus on practicing skills such as speed, flexibility, and strength along with mental attributes like focus, perseverance, and discipline. Our potential can be nurtured through consistent training, practicing outside of class, pushing past our limits, and setting goals that challenge us. Unlocking our full potential requires dedication and willingness to push through the challenges of the journey while learning from mistakes and building confidence from successes. Practicing taekwondo allows us to improve ourselves mentally and physically and, with the help of others, develop skills we may have never thought possible.
How potential affects life outside of taekwondo
We also increase our potential for success by incorporating the physical, mental, and ethical philosophy of taekwondo into our daily lives. Our teachers encourage us to be the best versions of ourselves, and we know that unenthusiastic performance will not lead to improvement. In our lives outside of taekwondo, we are open to learning new things and sharing our knowledge with others. We are confident that diligence and perseverance will achieve the best results possible. We are trained to maintain a positive mindset and are comfortable being uncomfortable, which increases our potential for greatness, whether it be in our jobs, school, or hobbies.